Refrigerator condensing unit



Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. VIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO KELVINA'IOR CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN REFRIGERATOR connnn'sme UNIT Application filed January 14, 1929., Serial No. 332,298.

The invention" relates to mountings or frames upon which mechanical apparatus is supported, and it has particular relation to mountings or frames of the above designated character which shall be especially applicable for receiving fluid employed in connection with the operation of a mechanical refrigerating apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a support, for certain elements of a mechanical refrigerating apparatus, which is capable of being manufactured in quantity production at a relatively low cost and which, in addition, will provide a relatively rigid structure upon Whlch mechanical units employing moving parts embodied in a refrigerator condensing unit can be rigidly mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rigid support for the movable mechanicalelements embodied in a refrigerating apparatus which will also be capable of serving as a storage tank for liquid or other fluid employed in such apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of manufacturing condensing units employed in mechanical refrigerating apparatus by eliminating the tank heretofore generally employed for receiving and storing the liquid discharged from a condensing coil or radiator.

In one form of mechanical refrigerating apparatus employed generally prior to this invention, a cabinet or refrigerator was provided with a heat insulated chamberi-n which was mounted a liquid evaporating'unit for absorbing the heat within the interior of the refrigerator. Acompressor located exteriorly of theinsulated chamber was employed for ,the purpose of removing the gaseous fluid from the liquid evaporating unit and discharging it into a radiator or condensing coil at a pressure having a corresponding temperature above the temperature of the atmosphere or other cooling fluid surrounding the condensing coil. Condensed liquid gravitatfrom an evaporating unit of a refrigerating ing from the condensing coil was discharged into the liquid receiver or storage tank communicating with a lower portion of the condensing coil. This tank or receiver, the condensing coil or radiator, the.compressor, and a motor for driving the compressor, all were mounted on a rigid frame or support which, in turn, was resiliently supported by rubber cushioning elements, springs, or other suitable devices, capable of. absorbing the vibrations caused by the operation of the'motor and compressor.

According to this invention, the support, upon which the mechanical elements of the condensing unit are mounted, and the liquid receiver or supply tank connected to the condensing coil or radiator, are combined into a single element which eapably performs-the functions of both of the aforesaid elements heretofore employed.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference maynow be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which Figure 1 is a plan'view illustrating a condensing unit of a mechanical refrigerating apparatus embodying one form which the invention may assume; I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, elevational view illustrating the condensing-coil or radiator 75 embodied in the apparatus illustrated by Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view of the condensing apparatus taken substantially along the line 111111 in Figure 1.

In the apparatus employed in practising the invention, a compressor 10 of a liquid condensing unit 11, is supplied, by a suction conduit 12, with a heat laden gaseous fluid cabinet (not shown). The compressor 10 is provided with a drive shaft13 upon which a sheave wheel 14 is rigidly secured. A V-belt 16, employed in driving the sheave wheel 14, in turn is driven by a sheave pulley 17 which 0 is rigidly mounted upon a drive shaft 18 of an electrically energized motor 19. The fluid, at an increased pressure and correspondingly increased temperature, is discharged from the compressor 10 through a conduit 21 into an upper portion of a condensing coil or radiator 22. A fan or blower 23, rigidly secured on the outer end of the drive shaft 18 of the motor 19 beyond the sheave pulle 17, is employed for discharging a blast 0' air upon the condensing coil in order to increase the rate of condensation therein.

A lower portion of the condensing coil 22 is connected through a reducing union 24, to one end of a hollow or tubular support 26. In addition, the condensing coil 22 is mounted rigidly upon a portion of the support 26 adjacent the union 24. The support 26'consists of a long pipe bent to form a plurality of elongated sections 27, 28 and 29, which, in

the present instance, are disposed in substantially parallel relation. The ends of the sections 27 and 28 oppositethe end of the section 27 supporting the condensing coil 22, are connected by an integral, arcuate and hollow section 31, while the opposite ends of the sections 28 and 29 are likewise connected by an integral, arcuate nd hollow section 32.

The end of the%ollow support 26 opposite that in which the union 24is-located, is provided with a valve 25 which controls the supplying of liquid through a conduit 30 to the evaporating coils of the refrigerator. It is apparent that the pipe thus provides a sinuous or S-shape support, in turn, embodying a U-shape portion which may be employed independently as a support if desired.

A bar 33, welded or otherwise secured across the sections 27 28 and 29 adjacent the arcuate section 32, supports one end of a base portion 34 .of the motor liwhile the opposite end thereof, in turn, is supported by a bar 36 likewise secured to the sections 28 and 29 in spaced relation to the bar 33. Bolts 37 are employed for the purpose of securing the base portion 34 rigidly on the bars 33 and 36.

. The compressor 10, located adjacent the opposite ends of the sections 28 and 29, likewise is secured rigidly,'by bolts 39, upon the upper surface of a plate 41 which is welded, or otherwise rigidly secured adjacent its opposite ends, to the lower surface of the sections, as best shown in Figure 3.

Although a three point support is preferred, an number of blocks'or posts 42 may be secure at convenient locations upon the lower side of the support 26. The lower ends of such blocks are provided with sockets 43 which are adapted to receive spherical balls 44'composed of rubber or other, suitable re-' silientmaterial. The balls 44 are seated in recesses formed in the upper surfaces of wooden base blocks 46, which, in turn, are

parent that it may be employed for supporting the mechanical or otherelements of an apparatus of a totally different character. L'kewise, the mechanical elements of an apparatus may be located upon the support in any desired relation. Also, the support may be made to assume any convenient form other 'than that illustrated, in order to render it capable of accommodating the elements of an apparatus desired to be located thereon. Although it is desirable to form the support from a continuous length of tubing, there ma be circumstances under which it will be pre erable to form the chambered sections separately and connect the interiors thereof by conduits.

From the foregoing description, itis anparent that the invention provides a condensing unit, the manufacturing cost of which will be relatively small, when com ared to the cost of manufacturing the con ensing units heretofore employed in mechanical refrigerating apparatus. By utilizing the principles embodying this inventiomit is possible greatly to reduce both the cost and-the weight of a refrigerator condensingiunit.

Although the s ecification discloses but a single preferred orm of the invention and describes in detail only a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so. limited, but that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departmg from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. A support for a refrigeration condensing-unit including a compressor, condenser and motive means; comprising an elongated tubular member having a plurality of parallel sections and having its free extremltles remote from eachother, and means associated with the extremities for joining refrigerant conduits thereto. i

2. A, support for a refrigeration condensingunit including a compressor, condenser a sinuously and motive means; com rising wound and elongated tu ular member havin its opposite extremities remote from each 0t er, said tubular member being adapted to support the condenser adjacent one extremity, means for connectingthe outlet of the condenser to the same extremity, and means associated with the opposite extremity for connecting a refrigerant. conduit thereto.

3. A su port for a refrigerationcondensing unit including a compressor, condenserand motive means; com using an S shaped tubular member adapte to support the conlet denser on one leg and the remainder of the condensing unit between the other two legs.

4. A support for a refrigeration condens-' ing unit including a compressor, and motive means, comprising a tubular member forming a liquid refrigerant receiver and having. a pair of substantially straight portions joined on one end thereof by a curved portion, and a refrigerant condenser associated with the compressor and with said liquid refrigerant receiver supporting the means. In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

. GEORGE A. VIS. 

